Research and Development Engineering Manager

About our client:

Our employer is the leading manufacturer of Premium Metal Payment Cards and also offers best-in-class Authentication and Digital Asset solutions. The Company's offerings combine elegance, simplicity, and security to deliver exceptional experiences and peace of mind, enabling trust for millions of people around the globe.

Position Overview:

The R&D Engineering Manager is a senior, hands-on technical leader. They will be the source of energy and enthusiasm for their team. We are looking for a partner who will lead by example and be a mentor to a multidisciplinary R&D engineering team. They will be directly involved in product development, process innovation, and problem-solving.

This role is not purely managerial. The ideal candidate is a working engineer who actively contributes to designs, prototypes, experiments, root-cause analysis, and industrialization. They will create a network in the company to move products from concept to commercialization at a cadence. They will be removing obstacles, and ensuring engineers are productive, aligned, and accountable.

This individual should have firsthand experience in product development. They have already internalized that requirements evolve, resources may be constrained, and new solutions must be created. They have a proven track record of taking initiative, making informed tradeoffs, and creating a new path where it does not exist.

The R&D Engineering Manager will work onsite 5 days a week out of our office in Somerset, NJ.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technical Leadership & Hands-On Contribution
• Lead the design, development, and industrialization of new products, materials, and manufacturing processes.

Remain hands-on with:

• Prototyping and experimental builds
• Test design, execution, and data analysis
• Process development and scale-up
• Root-cause analysis and corrective actions

Review and contribute to:

• Engineering drawings, specifications, and test protocols
• Technical reports, work instructions, and validation documentation
• Drive technology transfer from R&D into production with full ownership of technical readiness.

People Leadership & Team Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop R&D engineers across multiple disciplines (mechanical, electrical, materials, chemical, manufacturing).
• Set clear technical expectations and standards for engineering rigor, documentation, and execution.
• Actively coach engineers through complex technical problems—not just assign tasks.
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, curiosity, and constructive challenge.
• Partner with engineers to remove roadblocks and help them succeed rather than escalating problems upward prematurely.

New Product Development & Innovation:

• Lead next-generation and new product development initiatives from concept through commercialization.
• Identify and evaluate Client materials, architectures, and processes.
• Balance innovation with manufacturability, cost, reliability, and compliance.
• Support invention disclosures and patent preparation where appropriate.
• Make sound engineering decisions when performance targets conflict with cost, schedule, or manufacturability.

Execution, Prioritization & Problem Solving:

• Take ownership when plans break down—define a new path forward rather than waiting for direction.
• Make informed decisions with imperfect data and communicate rationale clearly.
• Prioritize work across multiple projects to focus effort on what most impacts business outcomes.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Product to ensure feasibility and scalability.
• Drive prototype builds, pilot runs, and qualification efforts to completion.

Process & Continuous Improvement:

• Identify improved methods for existing products and processes.
• Lead qualification of new materials, suppliers, or equipment.
• Ensure engineering activities align with ISO, EMS, and internal quality systems.
• Champion documentation discipline while keeping it practical and value driven.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Materials, Chemical, or related field); MSc. preferred.
• 7 years of progressive R&D and/or product engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineers or technical teams (formal or informal).
• Proven track record of bringing products or processes from concept to production.
• Strong experimental mindset: test design, data interpretation, and failure analysis.
• Comfortable working across disciplines (materials, electronics, mechanical systems, manufacturing).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to explain complex topics clearly.
• Highly organized, yet adaptable in fast-moving, high-ambiguity environments.

Key Personal Attributes

• Hands-on by nature – does not distance themselves from technical work.
• Bias for action – moves problems forward rather than escalating prematurely.
• Resilient problem-solver – finds ways to make things work under constraints.
• Technically credible – earns respect by contributing, not just directing.
• Keeps calm under pressure – steady when timelines, costs, or requirements shift.
• Stays curious and a learns continuously

Physical & Work Environment

• Onsite engineering, office, and factory environment.
• Must be able to support prototype builds and factory trials as required.
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs and work in manufacturing settings when needed.